Jaya announces welfare measures for Tamil refugees

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
Jayalalithaa on Saturday ordered extension of the government`s
comprehensive health insurance scheme to Sri Lankan Tamil
refugees and allocated Rs 25 crore for improving basic
facilities in the camps in the state where they are lodged.

She ordered extension of the scheme, presently available to
poor people of the state, as part of measures taken by her
government for the welfare of the Tamil refugees, an official
release said.

She also allocated Rs 4.33 crore for improving drinking
water supply and more than Rs 20.66 crore for repairing
houses, road works and for creation of library, ration shops
and sanitation facilities in the camps, it said.
The Chief Minister decided to grant a one-time grant of Rs
10,000 each to 416 women`s self help groups of the refugees,
setting apart Rs 41.60 lakhs.

Jayalalithaa has also ordered increase in the incentive
given to 1,000 students of the refugees families pursuing
higher studies which would cost the state exchequer Rs 20.98
lakh, the release said.
PTI